Lake forest association general membership meeting

LAKE FOREST ASSOCIATION
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
November 15, 2009

Directors Present:  Neal Bench, Don Brewer, Jack Chambers, Ed Couch, Richard Gugelmann, Lindesay Harkness, Charlotte Newby, Barry Shanley

 

 

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 7:40 PM by Chair, Jack Chambers, at the Church of Reconciliation.  Jack welcomed all attending - 40 paid members, names and addresses attached - and introduced the LFA board.

 

Minutes:  Minutes of the November 9, 2008 General Membership Meeting were approved unanimously.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Ed Couch reported beginning cash and cash equivalents for the period 10-1-08 to 9-30-09 of $326,833; ending cash and cash equivalents for that period were $305,699.  The difference is due chiefly to the cost of forebay clean-out and the decrease in prepaid dues.

 

Cash and cash equivalents as of 9-30-09 are as follows:

 SECU:
  Shares   $      57
  Money Market               47,658
  Checking                    471
 Wachovia:
  Money Market                  1,518
  Checking                           7,236
  Certificate of Deposit       33,131
 Edward Jones:
  Money Market         628
  Certificates of Deposit    215,000
               $305,699

 

Our goal has been to keep the funds safe, but growing and available for unforeseen lake related maintenance, especially emergency dam repair and future forebay work.  The full financial report is attached.

 

2009 Standing Committee Reports:

 

Real Estate:  Charlotte Newby stated that Lake Forest averages about 18 home sales per year; there are currently 20 on the market or which have sold recently.  Realtors and property attorneys contact us regularly to ask about dues and lake access, and we appreciate their diligence and cooperation.

 

Real estate professionals have told us that delinquent dues and prohibited access to Eastwood Lake are material facts to be disclosed to potential buyers prior to offers to purchase. Therefore, realtors who list homes in LFA that owe dues and/or assessments, receive a registered letter from LFA stating the amount owed. We explain that the Association collects funds annually from property owners to maintain the lake and adjacent park land and that unpaid fees accrue to the property and must be paid before new owners can have access to the lake.

 

Boat Rack:  Barry Shanley reported that all 70 berths are taken; there are 4 people on the waiting list.  All boats are stickered with the LFA logo and a number corresponding to the same number on the boat rack.  There has been no thievery this year. Not all berths have boats in them as some members pay for a berth but keep their boats elsewhere.  Barry will explore subletting berths with these members so more people may have boats at the lake.  There is not yet a need to build another rack.  Barry will soon be removing tree stumps and plans to keep the natural, “non-boat yard” look in the boat rack area.

 

Associate Members, Membership Numbers and Program Review:  In Seth Brody’s absence, Jack Chambers reported a total of 41 associate members with a waiting list that fluctuates seasonally.  Past experience has shown this to be a workable number which avoids over-taxing park facilities and the volunteer nature of most LFA programs.  However, the board annually reviews extending the LFA legal boundaries particularly in those areas adjacent to the lake but is aware that many who want to belong are on the waiting list for a long time. 

 

The suggestion was made by several members, that park attendance figures would help determine the number of people who use the lake on a daily basis during the swim season.  In addition, Judy Leinbach regularly provides the board with a report of the member sponsored groups that use the park for picnics, graduations, bar mitzvahs, and other celebrations.

 

Lake Management:  Richard Gugelmann explained the problems of three invading species:  1)  Geese - He attempts to curb reproduction by first finding nests and then oiling the eggs.  2)  Beavers - They come down the creeks into the wetlands and undergrowth areas and make dams which help slow silt before it reaches the lake bed.  However, they also remove vegetation which causes shoreline erosion, can quickly overrun a small lake and must be monitored regularly.  3)  Fish - We need to keep a balance of fish species in the lake.  150 grass eating sterile carp were put in after the lake dredging to keep down the weeds.  They can live 20 years and reach 20 pounds, but in a heavy rain, some wash over the dam.  Dick Hill suggested we contact a fishery and have them test the stock in the lake to determine if we need to add more young carp or other species. 

 

Engineering/Park Maintenance:  Don Brewer gave an update on the following three areas:

 

Lake Water Quality:  For many years, Chuck Hennage has tested the lake water three times per year for ecoli bacteria which is a concern and also a marker for other problems.  In the 1990’s, there were several OWASA sewage spills and testing detected resulting lake pollution.  The pipeline has been improved and ecoli has been very low.  Chuck has moved from Lake Forest but will continue to do our testing with the same frequency.

 

Algae blooms occur from time to time; this is probably due to leaves and fertilizer in the lake and periods of little wind to move surface water.

 

Brown water, sediment and reduced visibility in the lake are common in Piedmont lakes.

 

Forebay Excavation:  As background, Don reviewed the 2001 lake restoration:  This included draining 48 acre Eastwood Lake, repairing the dam built in the 1930’s and adding forebays at the two main entry creeks.  A forebay is a widening and deepening of the area where the creeks empty into the lake; it is designed to slow water flow so sediment falls out into the forebay instead of the lake.

 

Forebay clean-out is much less disruptive to humans and animals and far less expensive than lake dredging.  Most sediment comes from the scouring of creek beds and banks by the volume and velocity of water rushing down stream; the amount varies from year to year depending on hurricanes and other weather events.  However, upstream development is also a factor, and accurate records of sediment levels could be useful to LFA for legal purposes.

 

At Cedar Falls Creek, the topography and real estate meant that we couldn’t widen the area where the creek empties into Eastwood Lake.  Instead, a big hole 12 feet deep was dug in the lake bed at the creek entrance.  This forebay can only be cleaned out when the lake is empty.  The need for this is expected to be 15 or more years from now.

 

At Booker Creek, Don has taken depth surveys of the forebay every spring since 2001.  In 2008 it was 50% full and we expected to remove 2,000 cubic yards of sediment or about 200 dump truck loads.  Cost estimates with inflation were anticipated to be around $80,000. 

 

Federal and State permits were secured by March, 2009.  Excavation work began in July 2009 during the driest period of summer.  Stone-surfaced road beds had been constructed on either side of Booker Creek forebay to provide heavy equipment access.  It was necessary to install check dams and drain the forebay.  The lake level remained unchanged.  Earth moving equipment worked from the emptied forebay and removed sediment  to the south road bed only where it de-watered or dried out for a month before being hauled away.

 

Fortunately, the entire project cost much less than anticipated, under $50,000.  This was due primarily to favorable pricing from the contractor and less sediment than expected - after de-watering, there was only 1,100 cubic yards to haul away.

 

Some beaver dams in the creek and surrounding wetlands can help slow water, catch sediment and increase the effectiveness of the forebay.  Dams are removed during forebay excavation and as FEMA does not allow man made dams in wetlands, we will continue to monitor water level in the lake versus the forebay as well as sediment depths.

 

There is a large amount of sediment in Booker Creek under the bridge at North Lakeshore Drive. Sediment removal in this area is the responsibility of the Town of Chapel Hill.  In 2001, the excavation of East Wood Lake was coordinated with the town engineer who agreed that regular maintenance should be performed in this area.  However, when Don contacted the town prior to forebay excavation this year, they were not in a position to remove sediment from Booker Creek.

 

Park Improvement and Physical Maintenance:  Don oversees ongoing maintenance:  grass mowing on LFA  lands at North and South Lakeshore Drives and in the park, on Old Oxford Road in the area of the “Lake Forest” sign (which we do not own, but maintain), grass remediation, aeration, fertilization, liming, and over-seeding, replanting of grass or sod where repairs or heavy use has damaged turf, tree trimming, replacing gravel in the parking area, the steps to the picnic area and boat rack area, repairs to underground pipes, repairs to grills, picnic tables and painting park equipment. 

 

Park improvements made recently:  In 2007 steps were constructed from the parking area to the picnic area and a catch basin drain was installed to handle water problems along the western edge of park land.  In 2008 motion detector security lighting was installed near the boat rack and the culverts were cleaned out.  In 2009 the parking lot was edged with timbers to contain surface gravel and more stone was added on the drive going to the beach.

 

The board has a wish list of park amenities generated in part by member requests:  rebuild floating docks, replace the small picnic shelter with a larger, covered structure, provide a swimmers’ changing area, place benches with shelves for towels near the lake, enlarge the picnic area, have larger grills, add more shade trees, build a new canoe docking area with mats and a dolly to lift boats, provide a storage locker for canoe paddles, replace gravel on the dog beach with sand, install a pot-o-potty during swim season, replace the entry gate lock with a more user friendly system, change the number and location of bulletin boards, provide boats that can be shared among members without boats and install playground equipment.

 

Before addressing requests, the board has to consider the following:  Many members want to keep the park as natural as possible while others request an upgraded recreational facility.  There are local, State and Federal restrictions which govern the lake and surrounding LFA properties; for example, no structures can be built within 50 feet of the shoreline.  Maintenance is ongoing and expensive.  Vandalism is common.  One of the most important considerations is that LFA is and always had been operated with volunteer leadership and labor.

 

Summer Program

 

Social Program:  Christy Hollywood has moved and we are in need of a new volunteer to organize one or more members’ picnic socials in the park.

 

Summer Recreation Program:  Judy Leinbach has done an excellent job.  Jack reported that she is undergoing  cancer treatment at this time but will be able to run the program this summer.  Her staff includes two college age supervisors and four high schools age students from the LFA and Associate Member neighbors.

 

Newcomers Program:  Gracia Barry has a committee of 8 people who visit new neighbors in 6 regions.  They have welcomed 14 families this year with information packets about our lake and our neighborhood.

 

By-Law Changes:  The By-Law changes were approved unanimously and are attached to the minutes.

 

Other Items

 

Website - The Backyard Fence:  This is run by Ed Neely and contains helpful information for LFA homeowners.

 

Chapel Hill Garden Club Spring Garden Tour:  The Chapel Hill Garden Club has chosen to feature 10 gardens in the Lake Forest neighborhood.  The tour is April 17 and 18, 2010.

 

Election of 2010 LFA Board:  Current board members were re-elected with the exception of Lindesay Harkness who will be leaving with great thanks and will be replaced by Lida Jeck.

 

Other Business:  Several members noted the constantly barking dog at the North end of the lake and the suggestion was made to make a written complaint to the Town and investigate the city noise ordinance as this may apply.

 

Don Brewer was presented with a plaque in recognition of his outstanding volunteer work on behalf of LFA.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.

 

Submitted,

 

Charlotte Newby, Secretary